Fire-control mechanism



- 1,615,133 R. L. GOETZENBERGER- FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 22, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 1 y

Feb. 1 1927.

R. L. GOETZENBERGER FIRE CONTROI; MECHANISM I Filed July 22, 1925 5 Sheds-Sheet 2 INS mm Feb. '1 1927.

I 1,616,183 R. L. GOETZENBERGER FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM I Filed July 22, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'RJ..- Guetzenher Er Feb. 1 1927. 1,616,183

- R. GOETZENBERGER FIRE CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed July 22, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R-L llnetzenhar er' Feb. 1 1927. 1,616,183

R. L. GOETZENBERGER FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 22, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .JTEZZ gwoentoz 57 R -1;-Guetzenber E1 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

RALPH L. G-OETZENBERG-ER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed July 22, 1925.

Serial No. 45,307.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883; 22'SEAT. I. 625;)

The invention described herein ma be used by the Government, or any 0 oiiicers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government or by any other person in the United States. without payment to me of any royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 8, 1883.

This invention relates to fire control mechanisms especially applicable in anti-airraft gunnery.

.Vhen aiming a gun upon a moving target, whether such target he in the air. or on land or water, it is imperative that the sighting telescope at all times follow the target throughout its movements and that the gun, in order that its fired projectile may burst at the predicted future position of the target, be laid both in azimuth and elevation to such future position. To accomplish this requires that the gun be set forward from parallelism of its axis of bore with the optical axis of the telescope, angular amounts in azimuth equal to the lateral deflection correction. and, in elevation equal to the vertical deflection corrections and the angle of super-elevation, i. e., the vertical angle between the line of future position and the axis of the bore when the gun is ready to fire; in'other words, it is the additional elevation that must be applied to allow for the curve of the trajectory.

In general practice, the data to be placed on the gun are obtained at a remote point through a sighting telescope which follows the target and whose movements are synchronously transmitted to a fire control apparatus at the central or battery comman-ders station, corrections are applied and the final data resolved and continuously ransmitted to the gun position.

In order to determine quadrant elevation at the gun either the functions altitude and future angle of site, altitude and fuse range, orfuse range and future angle of site are employed. In utilizing the latter method, fuse range and future angle of site, the operator ofthe fuse setter may be connected in parallel with the telephone circuit, generally used in transmitting the element fuse range to the layer responsible for setting the gun to the proper quadrant elevation. The

operator from the ofthe fuse setter hears and sets same data. However, since guns of a battery may be so widely displaced that s the use of a common fuse range would incur appreciab le error it is contemplated in the present invent-ion to secure separate determinations of fuse range and also quadrant elevation at the gun emplacements. In-this case one or both ofthe two'first mentioned methods of resolvlng quadrantelevation is employed andthe element altitude required in the computation of the data is transmitted from the receivi-n g to derive battery commanders station; By the element altitude it is possible automatically the fuse range at the gun and transmit it mechanically to an indicator dial or to the fuse setter itself to automatically set the fuse to the proper fuse range. By thus automatically setting the fuse the dead time of maneuver which is the interval between determination of the range and firing the shell may bereduced which is of vital. importance in reducing probability factors of error. As the correction fo r dead time is a variable quantity practicalembodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Fig. 1 is a View in right side elevation of trol mechanism;

Fig. 2

'un equipped with my improved'fire conis an enlarged. fragmentary view of the computing apparatus partly in side elevation and partly. in section;

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof taken along the line S3 of Fig. 2';

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

1s a detail sectional view of the forward end-of'the computing apparatus;

F' g. 6 is a sectional view "on the line 6 -6 of Fig. 2';

Fig. 7

is a fragmentary view in left; side 7 elevation of the gun showing the connection of the computing apparatus with a fuse setter; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the fuse setter.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4-.

Referring to the drawings by numerals and characters of reference:

A gun 5 is shown mounted on a carriage 6 which is rotatably supported on a base 7. Secured to the right side of the carriage is an apparatus A connected with an indicator dial B or with a fuse setter C, in this instance, on the opposite side of the gun.

The apparatus A is enclosed in a housing 8 and includes drums 9, 10 and 11 to be hereinafter referred to respectively, as the elevation, fuse range, and vertical deflection correction drums. For direct firing, the present angle of site to the target is obtained by observation through a sighting telescope D and is transmitted through the universal shaft 12 to a shaft 13 which extends longitudinally through the drums 9 and 10 and is journaled in the housing 8.

On the shaft 13 within the rear portion of the elevation drum 9 is keyed an internally geared member 14 which meshes with pinions 15 mounted on a spider 16 fast on a sleeve 17 which surrounds the shaft 13 and extends through the range drum 10. These pinions also mesh with a gear 18 integral with the rear drum head of the elevation drum 9. By means of this gearing the drum 9 is rotated proportional to the present angle of site as transmitted from the telescope D.

So much of the apparatus as pertains to the elevation drum 9 and the correction drum 11 will be but briefly described as they are fully illustrated and described in a co-pending application, Serial No. 7 06,7 15.

Secured on the sleeve 17 is a worm wheel 19 which meshes with a worm 20 (Fig. 4') fast on a shaft 21 extending Vertically through the housings 8 and 8 and journaled therein. Upon this shaft and towards its lower end is mounted a beveled gear 21 meshing with pinions 11" mounted in a .worm wheel 11 carried by the vertical deflection correction drum 11. This drum which is actuated through the worm 11 and (arbitrary) vertical deflection corrections there is loosely mounted on the shaft 21 an independently actuated scaled gear member 24 meshing with the pinions 11 F or direct firing, movement of the worm wheel 11 and drum 11 until the indicator 23 registers with the proper graduation on the upper scale 22 causes rotation of the shaft 21, worm wheel 19, and sleeve 17 thus al ebraically adding the vertical deflection corrections to the rotation of the shaft 1.3 imparted by the telescope movements with the result that the elevation drum 9 is ro tated to an angle proportional to the angle of site to the predicted future position of the target.

The fuse range drum 10 is rotated in unison with the elevation drum 9 by virtue of the ring gears 25-25 on their adjacent drum heads which mesh with pinions 2G in a worm wheel 27 and consequently it also ro tates proportional to the future angle of site.

F or indirect firing when the telescope connection at the gun is not employed the future angle of site is imparted directly to the drums 9 and 10 by utilizing the lower scale on the druxi l1.

While the vertical correction corresponding to the dead time of maneuver may be included in the data applied to the drum 11, it is intended to control this computation separately at each gun, inasmuch as this value is a variable quantity dependent on the efficiency of each gun crew. For this purpose there is geared to the drum 11 a gear 28 driving through the universal shaft 29 demountable spiral gears 50.30 which in turn drive the worm 31 meshing with the worm wheel 27 to impart additional rotation to the fuse range drum 10. The spiral gears 3030 being demountable provide interchangeability to COHJPPHSQU. for the dead time interval which is the ratio between the dead time and the time of flight of the projectile and may be determined from practice to meet the average of conditions. When once decided upon, the ratio of the efficiency of a particular gun crew and ofthe mean time of flight of the projectile fired against airplanes as they fly in the vicinity of the specific battery, should not vary appreciably. However, should this ratio change considerably itis a comparatively simple matter to substitute a different train of spiral gears of predetermined value.

Upon the elevation drum 9 is rolled an abacus 32 of curves of either constant fuse range or constant altitude depending upon which is selected to be combined with angle of site to determine quadrant elevation. A pointer 33, whose translational movement along the drum is controlled by the elevation of the gun through the gear train 33 and rocker 6 when brought to the curve correspending to the announced value of fuse range or" altitude establishes the quadrant elevation.

Upon the fuse range drum'l'O is rolled an abacus 34 of curves of constant altitude plotted'with angleof site and'f'use range as coordinates. In front; of this drum, a pointer 35 ismoved by virtue of a screw shaft 36 which is controlled by the hand whet-31 37. \V-hen this pointerisbrought to the curve corresponding'to the announced'al tit'ude to theta-rget the rotation=ofthe shaft 36 is equivalent tothe fuse range sought as the value to be set-- on-the fuse setter G or registered in the indicator dial'B.

Since the fuse setter C isattached to the cradle of the gun consequently moving in elevation with it and" the elevation and rangedrums 9 and are fixed to the carriage, therefore relatively stationary, the necessity of compensating for these differences is accomplished in the following man ner:

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a support 38* which remains stationary by reason of its attachment to the housing 8 forms a divided casing for the differential-l transmis sion 39 and the bevel gear trains l0 l1 and 42%.?) A gear segment 44 which is attached to the trunnion of the gun engages a spur gearst5 on a shaft 46 which carries a" spur l7 meshing with the planetaryele ment of the ditferential'train 39. The rotation imparted to the differential train by reason of the elevation of the gun-is equal and opposite to the angular displacement of the spur 4L5 around the segment 44:. Con sequently the shaft 48 which carries the bevel'gear ll is not rotated. But when the screw shaft 36 is tui'ned the bevel gear train l2 l3 is actuated and causes an equivalent rotation through the differential 39to the shaft 48. lt'is this rotation tliat is proportional to thefuse rangesetting:

Passing above the gunvthe movement of the shaft 4L8 is conveyed by virtue of the bevel gears ii), a corresponding set 50 on the other side of the-gun and an extensible universal'shaft 51' into the fusesetter C or into he indicator dial B;

lVhile the cross shaft transmission shown one of several which might be applied it is pointed out that the computing apparatus A might be placed on the same side of the gun as the fuse setter.

Since the rounds of ammunition employed in anti-aircraft guns of' the larger Calibers are heavy they can not readily be turned to engage the fuse setter after being placed on the loading tray. Therefore, the fuse setter must be designed so that it is capable of engaging and setting the fuse no matter which may be the location of the stop pins on the bed and the time train ring of the fuse witlirespect to the angularposition of is only -pin on the fuse body the projectile on the tray. It maybe presumed that-all fuses will have been set at safety prior to placing the projectile on the tray although this is not essential-in so far as the operation of the fuse setter is concerned.

The fuse setter consists of a casing 52 provided with a bracket 53 whereby it is moi ably supported on a track 54 and guide rod 54 mounted on the cradle of the gun. Sliding on the track it is manually moved to the on position assisted by a spring 55 on the upper track 54, the guide rod 54 being carried along to enter an aperture in the shell tray to restrain it against movement during the fuse setting operation. .Vhen' restored to the off position-it is held in place by any convenient latch mechanism indicated at 56 which engages the upper rod and whose release therefrom is controlled through the hand wheel 72; V

\Vhen the fuse setter is to be automatically operated the fuse range data is represented by the rotation of the universal shaft 51 and is received into the fuse setter through bevel gears 57 one of which is on. av worm shaft 58. worm wheel 59 driven'froin the worm shaft 58 and having an internal gear 60. This movement is transmitted through a pinion 61 to range ring 62' which. is provided with a stop 63 position in thepath of the when the fuse setter is in the on position. In case the automatic remote control is not employed the wormsha ft 58 may be manually rotated until the value of the fuse range as recorded in the indicator dial l3 or announced fr in the battery coininanders station registers upon the peripheral scale (it against the stationary index' 65.

Adjacent to the range worm wheel 59 is a correc-tor worm wheel 66 driven through the worni shaft 67 and transmitting its movement through a pinion 68- to a cori'ec-tor ring 69 which forms socket for the fuse of the projectile. The corre tor Wheel 66 is likewise formed with a peripheral scale 70 registering against the index 65 while the Corrector rin 69 is formed with a slot 71 adapted'to receive the rotating. pin on the time train ring of the fuse. Changing the position of the corrector ring alters the position ofthe slot 7'1thus increasing or decreasing the time of burst and altering the height of burst without changing the range reading; Obviously if all corrections are included in the announced range the corrector wheel will be set at a neutral or zero reading.

Assuming the proper settings to have been made prior to moving the fuse setter upon the nose of the projectile or that the reading of the scale 64 is-changing continuously because of the: automatic remote. control Within the casing 'is a range through the universal shaft '51 the hand wheel 72 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction looking to the rear. The pawl 73 engaging the ratchet 74 raises the lever 75 to Withdraw the latch mechanism 56 from its engagement with the upper track at to allow the fuse setter to be moved to the on position where it is held by the spring Rotation of the hand wheel 7:2 in a clockwise dire tion causes a turning of the spider 76 and an equi-angular movement of the range and corrector rings 62 and 69 through the .pinions 61 and 68. The slot 71 on the corrector ring efiects rotation of the time train ring of the fuse until the stop 63 of the range ring 62 is brought up against the pin on the fuse body. This gives the time of burning required by the setting as read on the range and corrector indexes. The dial B which may be of any suitable type receives the movement of the shaft 51 by means of the gear 77.

The fuse ra ige drum l0 and the fuse setter may. if desired, be equipped with spiral springs 78 for the purpose of eliminating backlash and absorbing lost motion.

lvhile in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light,

of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a pair of rotatable scales mount ed on the carriage of acjun and adapted to indicate the present angle of site. mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scales a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means includingdemountable gears and controlled b v said preceding movement for adding the vertical deflection for dead time to the movement of one of the scales, manuallv operable means indicating against said scale and establishing the fuse range. means operable on elevation of the gun for indicatingagainst the other scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, a fuse setter mounted on the cradle and receiving movement from said fuse range indicating means, means associated with the trunnions and interposed between the scales and the fuse setter to compensate the fuse range indicating means for the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

In a fire control mechanism. the combination of a pair of rotatable scales mounted on the carriage of a gun and adapted to indicate the present angle of site. mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scales a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means ineluding demountable gears for adding the vertical correction for dead time to the movement of one of the scales, manually operable means indicating against said scale and establishing the fuse range. means operable on elevation of the gun for indicating against the other scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, a fuse setter mounted on the cradle and receiving move ment from said fuse range indicating means, means associated with the trunnions and interposed between the scales and the fuse setter to compensate the fuse range indicating means for the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

8. In a fire control mechanisnr the combination of a pair of rotatable scales mounted on the carriage of a'gun and adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scales a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means controlled by said preceding movement for adding the vertical deflection correction for dead time to the movement of one of the scales, manually operable means indicating against said scale and establishing the fuse range, means operable on elevation of the gun for indicating against the other scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, a fuse setter mounted on the cradle and receiving movement from said fuse range indicating means. means associated with the trunnions and interposed between the scales and the fuse setter to compensate the fuse range indicating; means for the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

4. In a fire control mechanism. the combination of a pair of rotatable scales mounted on the carriage of a gun and adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scales, a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for adding the vertical deflection correction for dead time to the movement of one of the scales, manually operable means indicat ing against said scale and establishing the fuse range, means operable on elevation of the gun for indicating against the other scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, a fuse setter mounted on the cradle and receiving movement from said fuse range indicating means. means associated with the trunnions and interposed bet-ween the scales and the fuse setter to compensate the fuse range indicating means for the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

In a fire control, mechanism, the combination of a pair of rotatable scales mounted on the carriage ofa gun and adapted to indicate the present an gle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scales a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, adjust able means for resolving the vertical deflection correction-fordead'time and adding it to the movement of one of the scales, manually operable means indicating against said scale and establishing the fuse range, means operable on elevation of the gun "for indicating against the other-scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, a "fuse setter mounted on the cradle and'receiving movement from said'fuserange indicating means, and means for compensating the fuse range indicating means for-the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

6. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a pair of rotatable scales mounted on the carriage of a gun' and adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically'to'the movement of said scales a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for resolving the vertical correction for dead'time and adding it to the movement of one of the scalesymanually operable means indicating against said scale and establishing the fuse 'range,means operable on elevation of the gun for indicating against the other scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, a fuse setter mounted on the-cradle and receiving movement from said fuse range indicating means, andmeans'for compensating the fuse range indicating means for the angular [displacement of'the fuse setter.

T7. In affire control mechanism, thecombinat-iono'fa pair of rotatable scales adapted to indicatethe present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraicallyto the "movement of said scales a movementproportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for resolving the vertical correction for"dea'd time'and adding it'to the movement of one of the scales, -manually operable "means indicating against said scales and establishing-the fuse range, means operable on elevation ofthe gunforindicating against the other scale and establishing the quadrant elevation of the gun, and a fuse setter receiving movement from said fuse range indicating means.

8. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for resolving the vertical correction for dead time and adding it to the movement of the scale, means indicating against said scale and establishing the fuse range, and a dial for registering the fuse range.

9. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for resolving the "vertical correction fofidead time and a'lddingitto themovement of the scale, gand-jmeans :indicating against said scale and ,establishingthe 'fuse r: nge. 7 I 7 a 10. "In a fire control mechanism, theieombination of a rotatable member sadapted to indicate "the present angle of site and having afamily ofcurvescf'constant altitude; mechanism for adding algebraically to'the movement of said scale "a -movement proportionate to the vertical deflection corrections, means indicating :against the-curves and establishingthejfuse range,-'aI-id-a dial for registering the :fuse frange.

'11. In a fire controLmechanism,the combination of z t-rotatable scale mounte'd on a gun carriage and adapted-to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the'movement of said scale a movement proportionateto the mai-n vertical deflection correction, means for=resolv ing the vertical deflection for dead time and adding itto the,scaleymeansindicating against said scale and'establishing the fuse range, a fuse setter mounted on the-cradle of the gun for movementtherewithand receiving movement f-romthe 'fuse range-indicating 'means, and meansasso'ciated ':with the trunnions and interposed between the scale and fuse setter tocompensate' the "fuse range indicating means for the angular (lisplacement of the 'fuse setter. 1

' 12. In fire control mechanism, the oom binationof a'rotatable scale mounted onsa gun carriage and adaptedto indicate the present angle of site,mechanismforiadding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the :vertical deflection corrections, means indicating against the scale and establishing: the fuse range, a fuse -setter :imountedrxonr the cradle of'the gun for movement 'thereivitlmand receiving -movement from the :fuserangeiindieating means, and means associated With the trunnions and interposed between the scale and fuse setter to compensate the fuse range indicating means for the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

13. In a. fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the vertical deflection corrections, means indicating against the scale and establishing-the fuse range, a fuse setter mounted on the cradle and receiving movement from the fuse range indicating means,and means to compensate the fuse range indicating means for the angular displacement of the fuse setter.

14-. In a fire'control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable member adapted to indicate the present angle of site and having a family of curves of constant altitude, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the vertical deflection corrections, means indicating against the scale the fuse range, and a fuse setter receiving movement from the fuse range indicating means.

15. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means associated with said mechanism and including demountable gears for resolving the vertical correction for dead time and adding it to the movement of the scale and manually operable means indicating against said scale the fuse range.

16. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for resolving the vertical correction for dead time and adding it to the movement of the scale and manually operable means indicating against the scale the fuse range.

17. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the main vertical deflection correction, means for resolving the vertical correction for dead time and adding it to the movement of the scale, and means indicating against said scale the fuse range.

18. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to indicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale a movement proportionate to the total vertical deflection corrections, and manually operable means indicating against the scale the fuse range.

19. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a rotatable scale adapted to in dicate the present angle of site, mechanism for adding algebraically to the movement of said scale. a movement proportionate to the total vertical deflection corrections, and means indicating against the scale the fuse range.

20. In a fire control mechanism, the combina'tion of a shaft adapted to be rotated proportionate to the fuse range, a fusesetter mounted on the cradle of a gun and receiving movement from the shaft, and means for compensating the shaft for angular displacement of the fuse setter.

21. A fire control mechanism including a pair of members movable proportionate to future angle of site, one member provided with curves of constant altitude plotted With respect to quadrant elevation, the other member provided with curves of constant altitude plotted With respect to fuse range, and independentlyv operable means readable against said curves for respectively establishing values of quadrant elevation and fuse range.

22. In a fire control mechanism, the combination of a member adapted to be moved proportionate to future angle of site and having a family of curves of constant altitude, movable means readable against said curves for establishing fuse range and a fuse setter receiving the movement of said means.

23. In a fire control mechanism, the co1nbination of a member adapted to be moved proportionate to future angle of site and having a family of curves of constant altitude, movable means readable against said curves for establishing fuse range and means for registering fuse range.

RALPH L. GOItTZENBERGER. 

